Bookend lamp for television viewing



Dec. 6, 1955 B. v. MARSCHKE 2,726,318

BOOKEND LAMP FOR TELEVISION VIEWING Filed May '7, 1952 INVENTOR fiemhom M Manse/1k BY 0W mw g ATTORNEY r 2,726,318 Ice Patented Dec. 1955 BOOKEND LAMP FOR TELEVISION VIEWING Berthold V. Marschke, St. Paul, Minn.

Application May 7, 1952, Serial No. 286,513

4 Claims. (Cl. 240-4) This invention relates to an improvement in television lamps and deals particularly with a lamp combined with a pair of book ends, and supported thereby.

Manufacturers of television sets advise that less eye strain will be experienced it the back ground surrounding the television set is not entirely dark. On the other hand, it is difficult for those viewing a television screen to look toward a light. Accordingly, television lights usually are shaded in such a way as to shield the light from direct view and so that only reflected light is visible.

An object of the present invention lies in the provision of a television light which is supported between a pair of book ends so that the light is shielded from view and concealed from view by books mounted between the book ends. As a result the books supported on the book ends act to conceal the light fixture, permitting an inexpensive fixture to be employed and providing an indirect light adjoining the television set.

A feature of the present invention resides in the provision of a pair of book ends having laterally extending base members which telescope into a .central connecting member. This central connecting member provides a slidable support for the base members of both of the book ends and also as a support for the light fixture. Accordingly the central support serves a double purpose.

A feature of the present invention resides in the provision of a pair of book ends and means for adjustably supporting the book ends for movement toward and away from each other. A source of illumination is provided between the book ends and rearwardly thereof, the light source being sufiiciently low to be concealed behind books of usual size and shape. Accordingly the books between the book ends are in back lighted by indirect light rays creating a pleasing and unusual effect.

These and other objects and novel features of my invention will be more clearly and fully set forth in the following specification and claims.

In the drawings forming a part of the specification:

Figure l is a perspective view of the book ends and light showing the general construction thereof.

Figure 2 is a side elevation view of the construction illustrated in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a rear perspective view of a modified form of construction.

Figure 4 is an end view of the book end construction illustrated in Figure 3.

The book end structure is extremely simple and has the advantage that each of the book end members may be similarly constructed. The device A illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings includes a pair of end supports and 11 which may be identical in shape and construction. In the particular form of construction illustrated, the book end members each include a flat undersurface l2, upwardly and inwardly tapered front and rear edges 13 and 14, more sharply tapering upper portions 15 and 16, and substantially flat top portions 17. Obviously, this shape may be changed without greatly changing the invention.

The end member 10 is provided witha pair of parallel rods 19 and 20 extending horizontally therefrom from a point near the lower surface 12 thereof. The rods 19 and 20 are designed to frictionallyengage in spaced parallel apertures 21 and 22 in a center support 23. The apertures 21 and 22 are near the upper surface 24 of-the support 23 so that this upper surface 24 is but slightly above the upper surface of the rods 19 and 20.

The end member 11 is also provided with a horizontally extending pair of parallel rods 25 and 26 which are spaced similarly to the rods 19 and 20. It will be noted that the rods 19 and 20 of the end member 10 are placed similarly to the rods 25 and 26 of the end member 11 and that the rods of each end member are not symmetrically positioned with respect to the transverse center of the end member. In other words, the rod 19 projects from the end member 10 near the rear edge 13 of the end member 10 while the rod 20 extends from this end member at a point somewhere near two-thirds of the distance from the rear edge 13 toward the front edge 14. The rod 26 of the end member 11 projects from this end member near the forward edge 14 while the rod 25 projects from the end member at a point somewhere near two-thirds of the distance toward the rear edge 13. As a result the two rods 19 and 20 of the end member 1 0 may alternate with the two rods 25 and 26 from the end member 11 when the rods are arranged in overlapping relationship and when the end members 10 and 11 are parallel and aligned;

The central support 23 is provided with apertures 2'7- and 29 parallel to the apertures 21 and 22 and slidably supporting the rods 25 and 26. Thus the two end members may be moved toward or away from the central support within reasonable limits.

A lamp socket 30 is provided with a central projection 31' extending through a vertical aperture 32in the central support 23 rearwardly of all of the apertures mentioned The projection 31 is threaded to accommodate a retaining'member 33. A lamp cord 34 extends from the socket 30 to a suitable plu'g35which may be plugged into an electrical outlet of usual design. A lamp bulb 35 is supported in the socket 30 and may extend to substantially the height of the end members 10 and 11 in the arrangement illustrated. A reflector or shield 37 which is arcuate in horizontal section is placed forwardly of the light bulb 36 and socket 30 and is provided with a horizontal mounting flange 39 which extends over the central support 23 and is connected thereto. The flange 39 may be clamped against the central support 23 by the lamp socket and its retaining member 33. The retaining member and the lower end of the projection 31 are accommodated in a recess 40 in the undersurface of the central support 23.

When the light bulb 36 is illuminated the light is directed rearwardly by the reflector 37 against a wall or other surface rearwardly of the television set. The television set is usually placed against a wall or closely adjacent thereto. As a result the wall is illuminated by the light forming a lighted back ground encircling the television set. This creates a back lighting effect which provides an interesting pattern for books such as B mounted upon the rods 19, 2t 25 and 26 and upon the central support 23 between the end members 10 and 11. The books B are of common size in Figure 2 in proportion to the book ends and light and it will be seen that the light and shield are completely concealed from a point forwardly of the book ends when the books B are in place.

Figures 3 and 4 of the drawings show a modified form of construction C which is practically identical to the previous construction, except in connection with the type of light employed. In the structure C, the book ends 41 and 42 are provided with projecting horizontally extending rods 43 and 44 respectively which are slidably engaged with the central support 45 similar to the previously described support 23. A transversely extending base member 47 is connected to the central support 45 to extend parallel to the rods 43 and 44. A housing 49 having an attaching flange 50 is illustrated extending upwardly from the base member 47 along the front edge thereof. The housing 49 supports a pair of rearwardly projecting supports 51 and 52 which are suitably constructed to support a fluorescent light 53 therebetween. The light 53 is removably supported for replacement when necessary.

The construction illustrated in Figure 3 is only typical of various arrangements which may be used to indirectly illuminate the Wall rearwardly of the book ends and books supported thereby. While it is preferable that the light be directed rearwardly,.this is not entirely essential as the books supported between the book ends prevent the light rays from passing directly forwardly. In other words, the shield 37 of the device A and the housing 49 of the device B could be eliminated and the light rays could be capable of being directly forwardly, as long as the light source was below the level of books positioned between the book ends.

It will be seen that the central support serves the double purpose of connecting the book ends and supporting the light source. It will also be noted that the light is positioned low enough so that direct forward rays of light are not visible from in front of the structure when the books are in place. While the combination of book ends and a light source may not be novel in the present construction, the combination is important as it is the location of the light source relative to the books supported by the book ends that provide the light shielding and produce the back lighting eifect which is restful on the eyes and interesting in appearance.

In accordance with the patent statutes, I have described the principles of construction and operation of my television lamp, and while I have endeavored to set forth the best embodiment thereof, I desire to have it understood that obvious changes may be made within the scope of the following claims without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim:

1. A book end structure arranged to support a series of books including a pair of laterally spaced book ends, means connecting said book ends for movement toward and away from one another including a rearwardly extending light support engaging said connecting means between said book ends, and a light source on said support being positioned rearwardly on same and movable laterally in unison with said support relative to said book ends, said light source being adapted to be concealed from view by books positioned between said book ends.

2. The structure described in claim 1 including a shield positioned in front of said light source for directing the light rearwardly.

3. A book end structure adapted to support a series of books including a pair of adjustably spaced book ends, a plurality of horizontal means secured to each book end and extending toward the opposite book end, a rearwardly extending light support between the book ends slidably engageable with each of said horizontal means for selective positioning between said book ends, and a light source on said support being positioned rearwardly of the same, said light source being laterally movable with said support and adapted to be shielded by books positioned between said book ends.

4. A book end structure adapted to support a series of books of common size including book ends of sufiicient height to support books therebetween, connecting means for holding said book ends in spaced relation, a rearwardly extending light support intermediate said book ends adjustably connected to said connecting means, a light source positioned at the rear of said support and movable therewith between said book ends, said source being adapted to be shielded by books positioned between said book ends.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,570,973 Simonelli Ian. 26, 1926 2,051,448 Johnson Aug. 18, 1936 2,061,937 Fay Nov. 24, 1936 2,070,973 Marsh Feb. 16, 1937 2,134,606 Hackworth et a1 Oct. 25, 1938 

